A few days ago, I was alone at my daughter's apartment, dropping off some things for her. Then all of a sudden I hear water pissing in the hall closet where the water heater sits on a shelf. Thank God the shut off valve was right there, then I flicked the heater breakers off and called the landlord. He sent his maintenance guy over to check it out. We had to leave it as is 'till he came back the next morning with the replacement part. The pressure release valve had failed.
Now here's my concern...
The month prior, we only flicked on the breakers to the water heater for a few hours at a time when we came to clean and prep the apartment as no one was living there yet. I never thought to shut off the water line too, as I've never really dealt with this particular situation. Now I want to prevent another "accident" as my daughter and her roommate will be leaving the apartment 'til next Tuesday...
Is it better to leave everything on? The girls are concerned that it might decide to leak again and damage their stuff and the apartment with no one there to keep an eye on it. I am concerned about that too. Or should they shut off the breaker and the water line, and if they do.... is there a risk this might happen again when it's turned on.... or was it most likely because the water line was left open??
Common sense tells me turn both off.... Anyone out there with some valid experience on this matter?